Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-03-24
HUNDREDS OF CoPPERS.
A Pennsylvania Physicians Contribute
to the National Museum.

| to the National Museum.
"That is, have no doubt, the most
complete collection of American cents
extant," remarked the numsmatist ut
the National Museum to a reporter, re-
| ferring to a collection of American
cents just presented to the museum by
Doctor l. Z. Nagle. of Pennsylvania.
Though there are only about four
hundred of these pennies. coin col
lector would value them at several hun
| dreds of dollars.
doctor Nagle has been collecting
them for years." said the numismatist
''He has probably examined good
many tons of coins to pick out these;
in fact, scrutinized every penny he has
ever SEEM"
Doctor Nagle's collection of ''cop-
pers' has been installed in a large case
in the hall devoted to the exhibition of
historical objects. Each one has a Ia
bel attached. giving the date and de-
scribing the popularity of the penny,
by which it is known and classified by
the numismatist. For instance. one
label says: IT in cent inclined to left "
Another says simply ''eleven berries"
meaning that the man who engraved
the die cut eleven berries in the wreath.
The series embraces nearly every
issue of each year since the United
States Mint was established in 1893 to
the present date. The cents issued
during the first few years are dis
tingnshed mainly by the fact that the
Liberty heal upon them does not wear
Liberty cap but carries that article of
apparel on the end of pole which is
swung over her shoulder. In 1903, the
cap and pole were dropped out, and
Liberty appeared with circlet or chap
let about her brow, inscribed with the
word Liberty" This fashion pre-
vailed down to the day when the coin
age of the big copper cents ceased in
1856. and the smaller cents of alleged
metal were issued. The first of the
small cents was issued in that year. and
had on its reverse the image of an eagle
in fight. Subsequently the Indian
head, which has continued in vogue
appeared.
The collection, while of historical
value, illustrates the fine distinctions
made by numismatists. The coinage
of one year will be divided into several
varieties. :. variety may owe its origin
to the accident of broken die. the
cent showing on its fa~e slight mutt
lation that would hardly be discovered
with a microscope. Then varieties
were produced also by the whim of the
dic-sinker or engraver who desired to
put his '.fccit" or private mark on his
work. This he did by emitting or add
ing berry to the wreath. giving lit
tie curl or two to the stem, defectinga
letter somewhat. or making some other
modification which the casual observer
would never notice, but the numismatic
will at once recognize.
Two big copper cents. issued in 1917.
are among the rarest in the collection.
These have the liberty heads well de-
fined; but on the top of the head. over
the liberty cap. is small protruber-
ance, which, under a microscope. APP
pears as a crown. DR.. Maggie says this
il a representation of the British
crown, and was cut in the die by an
engraver of British proclivlties, who
thus covertly set the British crown over
the American liberty head dassg-
ton Star.